AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I will pass along your congratulations to her. And by the by, the princess forced me to dance with her.”
“Forced,” Miles scoffed.
“Never mind,” Joshua said. “I’m not thinking of the ball.” Which was a terrible lie, as he hadn’t thought of much else. Except that kiss, of course. That had been burned into his brain.
“But you brought it up.”
Joshua grunted. He didn’t know why he was so annoyed that she’d managed to entice him to dance when he was against it. There was a time he would have done the same or worse. He’d made a game of flirting and enticing young women to do as he wanted. He supposed he didn’t like being beaten at his own game. And then she’d said the thing that cut through all else. She’d said the truth. That he was the way he was because of his loss.
He’d felt so exposed when she said it. But everyone knew it was true. And if Miles knew what she’d said, he would take the opportunity to drive the point home.
Speaking of Miles, he was staring a little too intently at Joshua this very minute, probably trying to see inside his head. “Again, why are you here, Miles?” he blurted. “Surely the Earl of Clarendon has business that needs tending, a house that must be looked after, tenants that must be heard.”
“Your hospitality is, as always, deplorable. You are right, I do have affairs that need tending, but like any man with substantial holdings, I have the people in place to ensure things carry on while I’m away. If you would like to know why I have not left you to rot in your darkness, it is because I have developed more than a passing interest in Miss Allison Carhill.”
Joshua looked up. “Allison Carhill. The one with the muddy brown hair and pale skin?” He turned in his chair toward Miles. “That slight little thing?”
“No, the one with the hair the color of tea, the luminescent blue eyes and the alabaster skin.ThatAllison Carhill.”
Funny how two men could look at the same woman and see two vastly different beings.
Just then, Butler entered the room. He was carrying that blasted silver tray, on which was a thick cream envelope. Joshua shook his head. “Take it away, Butler. I don’t want it.”
“Well, I do,” Miles countered, and plucked the envelope from Butler’s tray. He held it up with a smile. “As it happens, it’s addressed to me.”
“You’re getting your post here, now?”
Miles ignored Joshua’s grousing and opened the letter and read the contents. He smiled. He looked up at Joshua. “We have been invited to dine.”
“What do you mean,we?”
“I mean you and me, obviously. Would you like to know who has issued the invitation?”
Joshua snorted. “Hardly necessary. Iddesleigh can’t let a week pass without issuing an invitation to one thing or another.”
“His sister, the beautiful Lady Caroline Hawke, and her husband, Prince Leopold of Alucia, will be arriving at Iddesleigh on Thursday.”
Joshua groaned. Devonshire didn’t need any more royalty to arrive and cause more rumpus. The countryside was supposed to be pleasantly bucolic and quiet, not teeming with royalty. “I beg you explain to me why the man will not take no for an answer? I scowled the entire time I was at the ball. What more does he need?”
“Oh, I wish I understood it, too. If it were me, not only would I have ceased to invite you, I would have barred my door to you. But he seems an affable fellow, willing to forgive and forget. You should greet this invitation with enthusiasm.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re all cleaned up now, and Butler and Mr. Martin have gone to great lengths to revive your wardrobe. I understand you have new shirts coming.”
Joshua glared at his butler.
Butler lifted his chin ever so slightly.
“Who gave you leave to toddle off and spend my money?”
“You did, Your Grace.”
Joshua glared at him some more. That was true. Butler had leave to purchase whatever was necessary and Joshua trusted him completely. “No one asked you to freshen my wardrobe.”
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but Lord Clarendon adamantly requested it.”
Miles grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
